Independent TD Catherine Connolly has had a varied background that includes working as clinical psychologist and a barrister before she arrived in politics. Last July she was elected the first female Leas Ceann Comhairle of the Dail. She talks about her new role, how she doesn’t enjoy being a politician, her time in the Labour party and how anger brought her into politics.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

John O’Brien spent thirty eight years in An Garda Siochana at a time when the state and policing went through transformational change. From chasing paramilitaries along the border to putting together cases against gangland crime figures he accumulated huge experience, all of which he retells in his new memoir A Question Of Honour. The retired detective chief superintendent is also a keen student of the interface of politics and policing and offers some strong opinions on where it works and where it doesn’t.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Tuesday sees the election for the next US president in a contest that many believe to be the most important in decades. Can Donald Trump, against the odds, succeed in getting four more years? Or will the American people, through their extraordinary method of electing a president, prefer a safe pair of hands in Joe Biden?Mick was joined by Professor Bob Schmuhl of Notre Dame University to discuss the two contestants, their respective records and who will be the last man standing.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Right wing extremism is growing in Ireland, according to the annual report from the EU crime agency, Europol. This is the first time that this country has featured in the EU body’s monitoring of right wing extremism.So is this ideology, which has been gaining traction around the world, not least in the United States, a threat to the current political landscape? And who are these right wing extremists who have come to the attention of Europol and the gardai in this country. Dr Natasha Dromey who lectures in UCC and is an expert on terrorism spoke to this week’s podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There was plenty of spending but very little corresponding cheer in Budget 2021, mainly because of the pandemic that has impacted on all our lives.But are there any reasons to be cheerful and have the Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure spent wisely and covered all bases?Economist Jim Power and Irish Examiner Political Correspondent Danny McConnell joined Mick to discuss this and other elements of Budget 2021.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Earlier this week the government passed the milestone of 100 days in office. An unprecedented coalition has been governing through unprecedented times and it has been something of a baptism of fire full of controversies, the odd scandal and the continuing threat that the virus poses to public health and society.Taoiseach Micheal Martin is the podcast’s guest this week to look back over what has been achieved and what could have been done better. He also sets out the current state of the relationship between his government and NPHET.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CNN Reporter Donie O’Sullivan attended the Minnesota rally on Wednesday where the Covid 19 virus first became apparent among Donald Trump’s staff. Just over twenty four hours later the president tested positive for the virus.Donie talks about how the adoring crowd paid homage to Mr Trump at what may well turn out to be his last major rally in the campaign and he relates what the president’s supporters at the event think of their hero. He also reports on the election online where misinformation and false flags are playing a major role in the presidential campaign.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Neasa Hourigan is the Green party’ spokesperson on finance who has had a baptism of fire in politics going from a full time carer to a councillor and onto TD all in the space of seven months. Following her election to the Dail last February she was a part of the Greens negotiating team in coalition talks yet voted within the party not to go into government. She is currently seeing out a suspension on Dail speaking time for voting against the government on a bill to allow for evictions. She spoke to this week’s podcast about her politics, her place in the Green party and what a just transition looks like.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US election is little over six weeks away and the polls still favour Joe Biden but the race is tightening. This time around Donald Trump is no longer the outside promising to “drain the swamp”. He is instead outgoing president who is running on his record.How exactly is Trump regarded in this country? One person who believes that many in the Irish media follow the lead of their counterparts in the US media is Seth Barrett Tillman, an American academic living in this country. He is this week’s guest on the podcast.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A private member’s bill advocating a law for assisted dying will be introduced in the Dail in the coming week by People Before Profit Gino Kenny. The topic was recently in the news when cervical cancer campaigner Vicky Phelan said that she would be in favour of any such law.But what is involved and is Irish society ready to move in the same direction as counties such as Holland, Belgium and Canada and some US states.Joining the podcast this week to dig down into the topic is Professor Des O’Neill, specialist in geriatric and stroke medicine.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.